U.S. patent application number 10/703916 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-27 for arrangement structure for fuel cell system in vehicle.
This patent application is currently assigned to HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Fukuma, Kazunori, Kawasaki, Satoshi, Saito, Katsumi.
Application Number | 20040101745 10/703916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32321625 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040101745 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kawasaki, Satoshi ; et
al. |
May 27, 2004 |
Arrangement structure for fuel cell system in vehicle
Abstract
An arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle
including a fuel cell box which holds a fuel cell, a sub-frame
which holds a fuel gas tank, and a fuel gas dilution box. The
sub-frame is placed so as to be aligned with the fuel cell box, and
the fuel gas dilution box is disposed between the fuel cell and the
sub-frame.
Inventors: |
Kawasaki, Satoshi;
(Kawachi-gun, JP) ; Saito, Katsumi; (Shioya-gun,
JP) ; Fukuma, Kazunori; (Kawachi-gun, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MERCHANT & GOULD PC
P.O. BOX 2903
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402-0903
US
|
Assignee: |
HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Tokyo
JP
|
Family ID: |
32321625 |
Appl. No.: |
10/703916 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
429/96 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02E 60/50 20130101;
H01M 8/08 20130101; B60K 1/04 20130101; Y02T 10/7072 20130101; B60L
50/71 20190201; H01M 8/247 20130101; B60K 15/07 20130101; Y02T
90/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
429/096 |
International
Class: |
H01M 002/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 12, 2002 |
JP |
P2002-328114 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle,
comprising: a fuel cell box which holds a fuel cell; a sub-frame
which holds a fuel gas tank, said sub-frame being placed so as to
be aligned with said fuel cell box; and a fuel gas dilution box
which is disposed between said fuel cell and said sub-frame.
2. An arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle
according to claim 1, further comprising: a stay which is fixed to
said fuel gas dilution box, said stay including a base portion
having a fragile structure.
Description
[0001] Priority is claimed to Japanese application No. 2002-328114,
filed Nov. 12, 2002, which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to an arrangement structure
for a fuel cell system in a vehicle.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] In a fuel cell vehicle including a fuel cell system which
supplies power to an electric motor for driving the vehicle, a
structure capable of absorbing energy generated when the vehicle
collides is adopted as in other various types of vehicles. For
example, in Japanese Patent Application, First Publication, No. Hei
8-192639, a structure is disclosed in which a side member is made
into a shape that can be easily bent and deformed in an upward
direction and a fuel cell box which holds a fuel cell disposed on
the side member is also made into a shape that can be easily bent
and deformed in an upward direction so that energy generated by a
collision can be absorbed by bending and deforming the side member
and the fuel box and further rupturing the fuel cell.
[0006] However, in the above collision energy absorbing structure,
the cost of repairing the vehicle after the collision would high
since the collision energy is absorbed by rupturing fuel cells
which are expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide an
arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle by which
the costs necessary for repairing the vehicle after a collision can
be reduced.
[0008] In order to achieve the above object, a first aspect of the
present invention provides an arrangement structure for a fuel cell
system in a vehicle, including a fuel cell box (for instance, a
fuel cell box 39 explained in the following embodiment) which holds
a fuel cell (for instance, a fuel cell 38 explained in the
following embodiment); a sub-frame (for instance, a sub-frame 22
explained in the following embodiment) which holds a fuel gas tank
(for instance, hydrogen tanks 29 and 30 explained in the following
embodiment), the sub-frame being placed so as to be aligned with
the fuel cell box; and a fuel gas dilution box (for instance, a
dilution box 53 explained in the following embodiment) which is
disposed between the fuel cell and the sub-frame.
[0009] According to the above arrangement structure for a fuel cell
system in a vehicle of the first aspect of the invention, since the
fuel gas dilution box is disposed between the fuel cell in the fuel
cell box and the sub-frame which holds the fuel gas tank, collision
energy transmitted to the sub-frame when the vehicle collides is
sufficiently absorbed by deformation of the fuel gas dilution box.
Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent the fuel cell from
being damaged, and hence the costs necessary for repairing the
vehicle after the collision can be reduced.
[0010] A second aspect of the present invention provides an
arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle as set
forth in the above first aspect, further including a stay (for
instance, a stay 56 explained in the following embodiment) which is
fixed to the fuel gas dilution box, the stay including a base
portion (for instance, a base portion 54 explained in the following
embodiment) having a fragile structure.
[0011] According to the above arrangement structure for a fuel cell
system in a vehicle of the second aspect of the invention, since
the base portion of the stay has a fragile structure, the stay will
be ruptured or deformed to absorb displacement when the vehicle
collides and parts which are supported by the stay fixed to the
fuel gas dilution box, are relatively displaced. Accordingly, it
becomes possible to prevent force from being locally applied to the
attachment position of the stay fixed to the dilution box.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] Some of the features and advantages of the invention have
been described, and others will become apparent from the detailed
description which follows and from the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0013] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a plan view of an arrangement
structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a side view of an arrangement
structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle according to the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a cross-sectional view of an
arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle according
to the embodiment of the present invention taken along the line A-A
shown in FIG. 1;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a perspective view of a front
bracket which may be used in an embodiment according to the present
invention;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a perspective view of main parts
of an arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a perspective view of a stay
which is used in an arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in
a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0019] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing another perspective view from a
different angle of the stay which is used in an arrangement
structure for a fuel cell system in a vehicle according to an
embodiment of the present invention;
[0020] FIGS. 8A and 8B are diagrams showing a side view of main
parts of an arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a
vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 8A shows a state before a collision and FIG. 8B shows a state
after the collision;
[0021] FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams showing a plan view of main
parts of an arrangement structure for a fuel cell system in a
vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
FIG. 9A shows a state before a collision and FIG. 9B shows a state
after the collision; and
[0022] FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing a cross-sectional
view of a stay of an arrangement structure for a fuel cell system
in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention,
and FIG. 10A shows a state before a collision and FIG. 10B shows a
state after the collision.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The invention summarized above and defined by the enumerated
claims may be better understood by referring to the following
detailed description, which should be read with reference to the
accompanying drawings. This detailed description of particular
preferred embodiments, set out below to enable one to build and use
particular implementations of the invention, is not intended to
limit the enumerated claims, but to serve as particular examples
thereof.
[0024] Hereinafter, the arrangement structure for a fuel cell
system in a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present
invention will be described with reference to the accompanying
drawings. Note that the words "front", "back (rear)", "right", and
"left" used in this specification mean "front", "back (rear)",
"right", and "left" with respect to the traveling direction of a
vehicle.
[0025] A fuel cell which is provided with the fuel cell system
includes a solid polymer electrolyte membrane, and an anode and a
cathode which are located at sides of the membrane. In the fuel
cell, electrical power is directly derived from chemical energy
generated by a redox reaction between hydrogen gas (i.e., fuel gas)
supplied to the anode and air (i.e., oxidizing gas) supplied to the
cathode. The fuel cell system includes, in addition to the fuel
cell, a hydrogen tank (a fuel gas tank) which stores hydrogen gas
to be supplied to the fuel cell, and an air-compressor which
supplies air to the fuel cell. The fuel cell system further
includes a dilution box (a fuel gas dilution box) which mixes
hydrogen gas that is discharged when a purging process of water
remaining at the anode or of nitrogen contaminating the hydrogen
gas is carried out, with air exhausted from the cathode so that the
concentration of hydrogen is reduced.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, a rear floor 2 having a step
which is formed so as to be uplifted at the back is joined to a
rear end of a front floor 1. A cross member 4 which forms a part of
the framework of a vehicle is welded at the bottom of a step
portion 3 of the rear floor 2 over the width direction of the
vehicle. A pair of floor frames 5 and 6 that also form a part of
the framework of the vehicle are connected to the bottom surface of
the front floor 1 at the left hand side and right hand side
thereof, respectively, along the longitudinal direction of the
vehicle.
[0027] A pair of inside sills 7 and 8 are connected to Lie right
and left hand side edge portions, respectively, of the front floor
1, and inside sill extensions 9 and 10 are attached to the rear
edge portion of the inside sills 7 and 8, respectively. Also,
outside sills 7' and 8' are welded to the inside sills 7 and 8,
respectively, to form each of side sills 70 and 80 that form the
framework of the vehicle.
[0028] As shown in FIG. 4, front brackets 11 and 12 are attached to
an inside surface of the inside sill extensions 9 and 10,
respectively. Note that in FIG. 4, only the inside sill extension 9
and the front bracket 11 located at the left hand side are shown,
and the inside sill extension 10 and the bracket 12 are indicated
by corresponding numerals shown in the parentheses.
[0029] A flange portion 11f (12f) of rear upper end of the front
bracket 11 (12) is attached to a bottom wall of a rear frame 13
(14), which will be explained later, and a flange portion 11g (12g)
is attached to a lower surface of the cross member 4. Also, a front
wall 11b (12b) extends in a front direction together with an inner
wall 11a (12a) to become a front frame connection portion 11h (12h)
and attached to the floor frame 5 (6). Moreover, a collar nut 15
(16) is provided with the bottom wall of the front bracket 11 (12).
Here, the rear frame 13 (14) is a member which is attached to the
lower surface of the rear floor 2 and forms the framework of the
vehicle.
[0030] Accordingly, a front end portion of the rear frame 13 (14)
is connected to the side sill 70 (80) and the floor frame 5 (6) via
the front bracket 11 (12).
[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, rear brackets 17 and 18 having a
cross-section opened upwardly, are attached to the lower surface of
the rear edge portion of the rear frames 13 and 14, respectively.
Side walls of each of the rear brackets 17 and 18 are attached to
the outside of side walls of the rear frames 13 and 14, and collar
nuts 19 and 20 are provided with the bottom wall of the front
portion.
[0032] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, two cross members 4A
and 4B are provided so as to connect the left and right hand side
rear frames 13 and 14, and a bumper beam 21 is attached to a rear
edge portion thereof, i.e., to a rear edge of the rear brackets 17
and 18.
[0033] Also, a sub-frame 22 is fixed to the front brackets 11 and
12 and the rear brackets 17 and 18 by screwing a bolt 23 into each
of the collar nuts 15, 16, 19, and 20 from the bottom.
[0034] The sub-frame 22 includes a cross-beam 28 which is a member
formed in a rectangular shape by right and left frame members 24
and 25 and front and back frame members 26 and 27 and extends in
the width direction of the vehicle, and two hydrogen tanks (fuel
gas tanks) 29 and 30 are disposed at a respective position
separated by the cross-beam 28 being tightened and fixed by bands
31 and 32, respectively. Also, a suspension unit 33 is attached to
the sub-frame 22, and a tire, which is not shown in the figure, is
attached to the suspension unit 33. In this embodiment, each of the
hydrogen tanks 29 and 30 has a cylindrical shape, both ends of
which are closed by a spherical shape member.
[0035] In addition, insertions 34 and 35 for the bolts 23 which are
inserted into the above collar nuts 15 and 16 are provided at
corners formed by the front edge of the left and right frame
members 24 and 25 and both ends of the front frame member 26.
Likewise, insertions 36 and 37 for the bolts 23 which are inserted
into the above collar nuts 19 and 20 are provided at corners formed
by the rear edge of the left and right frame members 24 and 25 and
both ends of the rear frame member 27.
[0036] Accordingly, the sub-frame 22 is fixed to the rear frames 13
and 14 by inserting the bolt 23 into each of the insertions 34, 35,
36, and 37 of the sub-frame 22 formed in the manner as mentioned
above, and screwing the bolt 23 into the collar nuts 15, 16, 19,
and 20, which are provided with the front brackets 11 and 12 and
the rear brackets 17 and 18 of the rear frames 13 and 14. In this
embodiment, the front frame member 26 of the above-mentioned
sub-frame 22 includes a flat surface 26a at the front thereof.
[0037] As shown in FIG. 3, a fuel cell box 39 in which a fuel cell
38, etc., is accommodated, is disposed below the front floor 1 so
as to extend over the above-mentioned left and right floor frames 5
and 6.
[0038] As is also shown in FIG. 5, the fuel cell box 39 has a
structure capable of mounting the fuel cell 38 on a bottom plate
39d thereof and covering the side directions thereof. The fuel cell
box 39 is fixed to the bottom walls 5a and 6a of the floor frames 5
and 6, respectively, by the bolt 40 and nut 41 with its opening
facing in the upward direction as shown in FIG. 3. Note that the
rear surface of the fuel cell box 39 is made into a flat surface
39c as shown in FIG. 2. The fuel cell box 39 having the above
configuration and the above-mentioned sub-frame 22 (i.e., the front
frame member 26) are disposed close to each other with the flat
surface 39c at the rear of the fuel cell box 39 facing the flat
surface 26a at the front of the sub-frame 22.
[0039] Each of the center pillars 71 and 81 is disposed at a
position, viewed from the side of the vehicle, extending from the
back of the fuel cell box 39 over the front of the sub-frame 22.
More specifically, as shown in FIG. 3 which shows the left side of
the body structure of the vehicle (note that the right hand side
thereof is indicated only by numerical numbers in parentheses), the
inside sill 7 (8) and the outside sill 7' (8') are welded to the
flange portion 78f and 78f' at the upper and the lower ends thereof
to form the side sill 70 (80) as a structure having a closed
cross-section. The inside pillar 71a (81a) is welded to the upper
flange portion 78f and the outside pillar 71b (81b) is welded to
the outside surface of the outside sill 7' (8'), and the inside
pillar 71a (81a) and the outside pillar 71b (81b) form the center
pillar 71 (81) as the framework of the vehicle.
[0040] In this embodiment, three brackets 42 at one side, hence six
at both sides, are welded to portions between the left and right
floor frames 5 and 6 and the inside sills 7 and 8. The bracket 42
includes a flange portion 42a which is connected to the floor
frames 5 and 6, the inside sills 7 and 8, and the back of the front
floor 1.
[0041] In the above-mentioned manner, the fuel cell box 39 which
accommodates the fuel cell 38, and the sub-frame 22 which holds the
hydrogen tanks 29 and 30 are disposed so as to be aligned in the
longitudinal direction of the vehicle. More specifically, the fuel
cell box 39 is disposed at the front and the sub-frame 22 is
disposed at the back.
[0042] In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, accessories
51 for the fuel cell 38, the fuel cell 38, accessories 52 for the
fuel cell 38, and the above-mentioned dilution box (i.e., the fuel
gas dilution box) 53 are fixed, in that order, from the front, on
the bottom plate 39d of the fuel cell box 39. In this manner, the
dilution box 53 is disposed at the sub-frame 22 side with respect
to the fuel cell in the fuel cell box 39.
[0043] The fuel cell 38 has a substantially rectangular shape, and
it is fixed to the bottom plate 39d of the fuel cell box 39 so that
the longer sides thereof align in the width direction of the
vehicle.
[0044] The dilution box 53 also has a substantially rectangular
shape, and it is fixed to the bottom plate 39d of the fuel cell box
39 so that the longer sides thereof align in the width direction of
the vehicle. In addition, the dilution box 53 is fixed to the fuel
cell box 39 in a state such that it contacts with a wall portion
39e at the rear of the fuel cell box 39 so that no space is present
therebetween. A wall portion 53a disposed at a front and a wall
portion 53b facing the width direction of the vehicle, of the
dilution box 53, have a rugged surface as shown in FIG. 5.
[0045] An electrical-parts packaging box 55 for an electrical
control unit (ECU) etc., which control the fuel cell 38, is
attached to the wall portion 53b of the dilution box 53 via a stay
56. A base portion 54 of the stay 56 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 located
at the side to be attached to the dilution box 53 has a fragile
structure which is easily inclined and deformed, especially in the
back and forth direction of the vehicle.
[0046] More specifically, the stay 56 has a fixing plate portion
56a, a side plate portion 56b, an attachment plate portion 56c,
another side plate portion 56d, and protruded portions 56e. The
face of the fixing plate portion 56a is fixed to the wall portion
53b of the dilution box 53 by welding, etc. The side plate portion
56b extends from the periphery of one side of the fixing plate
portion 56a, and has a substantially triangular shape. The
attachment plate portion 56c extends from an upper periphery of the
side plate portion 56b to be bent horizontally in the same
direction as the fixing plate portion 56a. The side plate portion
56d is bent in the downward direction so as to oppose the side
plate portion 56b, and has a substantially triangular shape. Each
of the protruded portions 56e protrudes towards the fixing plate
portion 56a side from an upper and a lower position of a periphery
of the side plate portion 56d facing the fixing plate portion 56a
side, and contacts with the fixing plate portion 56a. A hole 57 is
provided with the attachment plate portion 56c, and a hole 58 is
provided with the side plate portion 56b and 56d so as to penetrate
the portions 56c, 56b, and 56d in the thickness direction thereof.
In this embodiment, the stay 56 is formed using a die to be shaped
as mentioned above, and is subsequently subjected to a holding
process.
[0047] The protruded portions 56 which contact the fixing plate
portion 56a are welded to the fixing plate portion 56a. Also, the
attachment plate portion 56c is separated from the fixing plate
portion 56a so that space is present therebetween. In this
embodiment, the above-mentioned base portion 54 of the stay 56 is
formed by a bent portion 59 at the boundary between the fixing
plate portion 56a and the side plate portion 56b, and each of the
contact portions 60 which is welded in a state such that the fixing
plate portion 56a contacts the protruded portions 56e. Note that
the electrical-parts packaging box 55 is attached to the upper
surface of the attachment plate portion 56c of the stay 56 using
bolts, etc., via the hole 57 of the attachment plate portion 56c,
and the electrical-parts packaging box 55 is supported by another
stay (not shown in the figures) at the fuel cell box side 39 as
well as by the stay 56 at the dilution box 53 side so as to be
efficiently placed within the narrow space.
[0048] Accordingly, as explained above, when a load exceeding a
design limit is applied to between the fixing plate portion 56a and
the attachment plate portion 56c of the stay 56 in a direction that
relatively moves the attachment plate portion 56c from the contact
portion 60 to the bent portion 59, the protruded portions 56e which
are welded to the fixing plate portion 56a and thus having a weaker
binding strength, are easily disconnected from the fixing plate
portion 56a (i.e., one of the base portion 54 is ruptured). As a
result, since the binding state of the fixing plate portion 56a of
the stay 56 is maintained only by the side plate portion 56b side
which is supported by the bent portion 59 between the fixing plate
portion 56a and the side plate portion 56b. Therefore, the side
plate portion 56b, the attachment plate portion 56c, the side plate
portion 56d, and the protruded portions 56e, as a whole, readily
incline towards the fixing plate portion 59 around the bent portion
59 (i.e., the other base portion 54 is bent) when the above load is
applied.
[0049] When the fixing plate portion 56a of the stay 56 having the
directionality in rupture and in deformation is fixed to the wall
portion 53b of the dilution box 53, it is positioned so that the
contact portions 60 between the fixing plate portion 56a and the
protruded portions 56e are readily separated when a force in a
front direction is applied to the fixing plate portion 56a via the
dilution box 53 which is moving in the front direction due to a
collision when hit by another vehicle from behind while the
movement of the attachment plate portion 56c is restricted. That
is, the stay 56 is disposed so that the bent portion 59 is placed
at the upstream side and the contact portion 60 is placed at the
downstream side with respect to the relative displacement direction
of the dilution box 53 and the fixing plate portion 56a in a
collision. Note that the stay 56 including the base portion 54 has
a strength sufficient to withstand and not be deformed by a load
applied during a normal running state. The stay 56 having the
above-mentioned shape has a high strength, particularly, in the up
and down direction and the right and left direction.
[0050] In the embodiment of the present invention having the
configuration explained above, when the sub-frame 22 which protects
the hydrogen tanks 29 and 30 is displaced from a normal state shown
in FIGS. 8A, 9A, and 10A in a forward direction when hit by another
vehicle from behind, the flat surface 26a of the frame member 26
located at the front of the sub-frame 22 functions to transmit the
pressing force uniformly over the flat surface 39c of the wall
portion 39e of the fuel cell box 39. Accordingly, the load is
dispersed over the entire surface to prevent the fuel cell box 39
from being deformed.
[0051] Moreover, when the sub-frame 22 is displaced in a forward
direction by even larger collision energy, the sub-frame 22 deforms
the wall portion 39e of the fuel cell box 39 and the dilution box
53 as shown in FIGS. 8B and 9B, and hence the collision energy is
absorbed by the deformation of the wall portion 39e and the
dilution box 53. In particular, since the dilution box 53 is closed
and the closed state thereof is maintained after the deformation
even though some change in volume may occur, the collision energy
can be effectively absorbed. In this manner, it becomes possible to
prevent the sub-frame 22 from reaching the fuel cell 38 located at
the front of the dilution box 53.
[0052] Also, when the sub-frame 22 is displaced so as to deform the
dilution box 53 as mentioned above, the electrical-parts packaging
box 55 disposed at a side is relatively displaced in a rear
direction with respect to the dilution box 53 when the dilution box
53 is moved in a forward direction by the impact. Thus, the
attachment plate portion 56c of the stay 56 which attaches the
electrical-parts packaging box 55 to the dilution box 53 also
relatively moves in a backward direction with respect to the fixing
plate portion 56a fixed to the dilution box 53. Then, the contact
portion 60 of the fixing plate portion 56a and the protruded
portion 56e, which is welded in a state as shown in FIG. 1A, is
separated as shown in FIG. 10B, i.e., the protruded portions 56e
are readily separated from the fixing plate portion 56a so that the
side plate portion 56b, the attachment plate portion 56c, the side
plate portion 56d, and the protruded portions 56e are readily
inclined towards the fixing plate portion 56a in a backward
direction around the bent portion 59 at the boundary between the
side plate portion 56b and the fixing plate portion 56a to displace
the attachment plate portion 56c in a backward direction. That is,
even when the dilution box 53 is moved in a forward direction due
to a collision, the fixing plate portion 56a is readily moved in a
forward direction while the position of the attachment plate
portion 56c is maintained as it is. As a result, the degree of
displacement of the fixing plate portion 56a with respect to the
dilution box 53 to which it is connected can be kept small.
Accordingly, no force is locally applied to the attachment position
of the stay 56 to the dilution box 53, and it becomes possible to
prevent breaking of the dilution box 53.
[0053] As explained above, according to the embodiment of the
present invention, since the dilution box 53 is disposed between
the fuel cell 38 in the fuel cell box 39 and the sub-frame 22 which
holds the hydrogen tanks 29 and 30, energy which is generated by a
collision and is applied to the sub-frame 22 when the vehicle is
hit from behind can be sufficiently absorbed by the deformation of
the dilution box 53. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent
the fuel cell 38 from being damaged, and hence the cost which would
be required for repairing the vehicle after the collision can be
decreased.
[0054] Also, even if the above-mentioned relative displacement is
caused to the electrical-parts packaging box 55 which is supported
by the stay 56 fixed to the dilution box 53, the stay 56 is
partially ruptured and deformed to absorb the displacement since
the base portion 54 of the stay 56 is formed as a fragile
structure. Accordingly, it becomes possible to prevent force from
being locally applied to the attachment position of the stay 56 to
the dilution box 53.
[0055] Having thus described exemplary embodiments of the
invention, it will be apparent that various alterations,
modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled
in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements,
though not expressly described above, are nonetheless intended and
implied to be within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Accordingly, the foregoing discussion is intended to be
illustrative only; the invention is limited and defined only by the
following claims and equivalents thereto.
* * * * *